What is co-op or internship?

Co-operative education is a formal program that integrates academic studies with work experience with employers. What that means is that students will have academic terms and work terms.

Co-op is a great opportunity to use your learning on the job and confirm if the career is the right fit for you. It’s also a great way to build your employer network.

At Georgian, we work within the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education definition of co-op:

Each work situation is developed and/or approved by the Co-operative Educational institution as a suitable learning experience

The student is engaged in productive work rather than merely observing

The student receives remuneration for the work performed

Student performance on the job is supervised and evaluated by the employer

Total work experience is normally 50 per cent of the time spent in academic student – in no circumstances less than 30 per cent

Internship is an extended period of paid work experience that is an integral part of a program of postsecondary study. Students are employed in settings which provide work experience directly related to their academic programs and career objectives.

Students in co-op and internship programs have the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to the real world of work.

Co-op work terms at Georgian College are not placements, as students are not placed or matched with a company. Work terms are earned through a traditional job search, interview and selection process.

Students in our co-op and internship programs have a whole team working with them to assist them in developing their career path and job search strategies for successful co-op, internship and graduate employment.

Our team

Co-op consultants, student developers

Provide support while you are on campus preparing for your co-op work term

Providing additional support for resumé and cover letter development, as well as: interview preparation, practice interviews, employment portfolio development and labor market information

Consultants also support students with disabilities by working with each student and his or her accessibility advisor to ensure students have job search support, interview assistance and an advocate for workplace accommodations

Future international students

Many international students choose to study here at Georgian College because we have a long history of delivering work-integrated learning. All of Georgian’s co-op programs require students – including international students – to complete successful co-op work terms in order to graduate. This means a student in a three year co-op program actually will have completed two years of academic study, along with one year work experience, when they graduate. Having the opportunity to gain industry-related work experience often leads to better opportunities upon completion of the program.

FAQs

Yes, all international students are required to have the appropriate work authorization in order to work in Canada. It is a good idea to apply for the co-op work permit about four months before your co-op or internship work term. There is no additional fee for this work permit since co-op is a mandatory component of the program. Staff in Georgian’s International Centre (C279) will guide you through the process. The co-op work permit allows students to work co-op/internship jobs only and cannot be used for any other type of work. For further information, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You will also need to apply for a social insurance number (SIN) in order to legally work in Canada.

Everyone has to start somewhere! While some employers may prefer to hire candidates with experience, many employers realize that not everyone comes with industry-related experience. There are other ways to gain experience and build a resumé. Co-operative Education and Career Success staff can help you with your resumé and cover letters.

Georgian is the only postsecondary institution in Canada with an international co-op consultant. The international co-op consultant is here to provide extra supports to international students in any job search related activity. These supports include:

Extra assistance in understanding employment in Canada

Understanding employer expectations

Canadian resumés, cover letters and interviews

One-to-one job search assistance

Specialized workshops

Personal coaching

All students in a co-op program will work very closely with the co-op consultant for their program area and will have access to our online system for co-op job postings and to our services in Co-operative Education and Career Success.

Students are expected to manage their time and commitments and ask for help. So be proactive and get connected – use the services and plan ahead!

The international co-op consultant’s office is located in B110. Stop by or call 705.728.1968, ext. 1340 to book an appointment.

The idea behind co-op is to give students the opportunity to gain real-life work experience in their industry. We expect students to be treated like any other employee at the company. So yes, co-op work terms are paid. Students will typically start at $14 per hour (minimum wage), depending on the industry, the company, the location, and the qualifications of the student – there is no maximum wage limit.

Students are encouraged to consider far more than just the wage they will be earning. When applying to jobs, think about the type of company, the experience you’ll gain, your long-term career goals, and how you will get to and from work each day or where you’re going to live. All of these are factors when conducting a realistic job search.

Yes, international students in a postsecondary program are permitted to work on-campus or part-time off-campus up to 20 hours per week. Your study permit will allow you to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring break. To qualify, you must:

Have a valid study permit

Be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the postsecondary level

Be a full-time student

Be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration

Build a resumé and be open to making changes to it once you get here and start your job search.

If you have previous work experience, consider contacting the employer(s) and asking them to write a reference letter for you. It should include information about the type of work you did in your position and how the employer felt about your performance. This letter should be typed on company letterhead and signed by a manager, supervisor or someone in a senior level role.

You may also want to build a portfolio (a collection of achievements and job search-related things to demonstrate your career to a prospective employer). This may be a binder, folder or other package and contain things such as awards, certificates, copies of other diplomas, certificates, reference letters, examples of your work or things that you have created or achieved

Another suggestion is to be prepared to obtain an Ontario driver’s licence. While it isn’t mandatory, employers will often request that students have a valid Ontario driver’s licence. Ontario operates under a graduated licensing system which lets new drivers get driving experience and skills gradually. The two-step licensing process takes at least 20 months to complete. For more information, visit the Ministry of Transportation

Yes. Georgian College works with employers to create opportunities for Georgian students and graduates across the province, nationally and internationally. While we do post some jobs that are local to the Barrie Campus, you should be prepared to relocate for your co-op job, as employers can be located anywhere. While many of the opportunities we promote are local, some students find work in places like Barrie, Orillia, Midhurst, Innisfil, Muskoka, Midland, Borden, Newmarket, Bradford, Collingwood, Toronto, Mississauga, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Brampton, Guelph, Kitchener, Sudbury, North Bay, London or in other provinces or even in other countries. Some international students may choose to return home for a co-op work term.

No. No student is guaranteed a co-op job, but as long as you remain in good standing and are eligible for a co-op work term, you will have access to all the resources needed to be successful in a co-op program.

Georgian’s co-op consultants work hard building and maintaining relationships with employers who hire co-ops, interns, graduates and students for a variety of types of work. We expect students to go to their co-op classes and use the services available to compete and interview for positions with employers that post with Georgian College. Students are also strongly encouraged to conduct independent job searches. Be sure to take advantage of the many services available to you through Co-operative Education and Career Success.

Georgian College works with thousands of employers to provide opportunities to thousands of students. You may end up working for a major corporation, a small business or you may even consider starting a company of your own as an entrepreneur. The possibilities are endless.

Thank you for connecting with Georgian for your co-op recruitment needs. Our Co-operative Education and Career Success team is pleased to offer employers a free, one-stop, year-round job posting service for co-op, internship, full- time, casual, part-time and summer positions. Our team is here to help you meet your recruiting requirements.

We invite you to explore this site to learn how we can help you hire our students and graduates. Learn about the benefits of hiring co-op students, how to post jobs, participate in career fair and networking events, and other opportunities to become more connected to Georgian.

We look forward to making education work with you!

Has your company hired a graduate from Georgian in the last year?

If so, you may receive a phone call from FORUM Research asking how satisfied you are with our graduates. This is for Key Performance Indicators, an evaluation that is mandated by the provincial government. We thank you for your continued support in making education work!

Students are available for co-op work terms at various times of the year. Most work terms start in September, January and May and are typically four months in length; some programs have eight month work terms.

CO-OP RECRUITMENT

We are currently posting positions for the winter semester. Students are available from January to April.

You can also post positions for part-time, contract, seasonal or full-time employees. Our job posting website is actively promoted to students from co-op and non-co-op programs, graduates and alumni.

Follow these instructions to post your position:

Visit GeorgianConnects – Georgian’s co-op and career job portal website – to login or register for an account

Register for an account by completing the required information (an email address is required)

Login and select CAREER

Upload your posting and complete the required fields (please include a brief overview of your company, major responsibilities of the position and minimum qualifications)

Once approved, you will be notified through email that the posting is available for students and graduates to view

Note: If your job opening is temporary or seasonal, you may also share it with Career and Employment Community Services or phone 705.722.1505 for more information. This service is offered through Georgian College Career and Employment Community Services, funded by Employment Ontario.

Georgian College’s Co-operative Education and Career Success department is pleased to offer comprehensive services to support your recruitment and on-campus promotional needs. Our mandate is to provide students and graduates access to meaningful job opportunities through a collaborative partnership with business and industry. In addition, Georgian’s Career and Employment Community Services also provides employers with Employment Ontario-funded programs, recruitment support and hiring services for all job seekers that are unemployed and not in full-time education. We have offices in Barrie, Orillia and Orangeville.

Georgian College has established recruiting guidelines to provide quality service to employers, better assist Georgian students, alumni and job seekers and to ensure compliance with relevant government legislation. Please review the following policies to ensure we can support your recruitment needs.

Pyramid-type or multi-level marketing organizations are not permitted to promote opportunities on-campus.

GeorgianConnects job posting privileges

Employment practices must meet provincial and federal laws. Please refer to the Government of Ontario website for information about employment standards. Georgian College’s Co-operative Education and Career Success department reserves the right to refuse any job postings on the GeorgianConnects job board including but not limited to situations where:

Compensation is based 50% or more on commission. Example: All persons hired for an opportunity will be self-employed and compensation for this position is 100% commission-based.

Payment of “up-front” fees for training and/or materials is required before the employee is able to begin. Example: To work for our organization, you will be required to pay professional license fees, training and/or materials before you can start working.

The purchase of a service or product or monetary deposit/fee must not be required as a condition of employment.

When fees are charged if the employee leaves before their contract is over. Postings must clearly indicate these characteristics in the job description to be approved. Example: If you leave before your contract is over; you are liable to pay a financial penalty.

Incorrect or misleading or incomplete information has been provided. Example: Duties and responsibilities, hours of work and location of the position as well as detailed and specific application instructions must be complete and accurate.

There are founded complaints from students or college personnel regarding unethical recruitment practices. We also reserve the right to refuse any job postings or participation in on-campus events, including job fairs, if the behaviour or conduct of an employer in any scope of their involvement with the college, fails to align with the values of Georgian College.

The employment opportunity doesn’t represent a viable work opportunity for students, alumni or job seekers.

Employment requires recruitment of other members, sub-distributors or sub-agents as a condition for employment. Positions must not require work that is multi-level marketing (MLM) in nature, or work for organizations that are pyramid-type or where an MLM structure is part of the organization’s structure.

Positions are for the recruitment of replacement workers during a labour dispute or layoff.

Personal/in-home services

Georgian College Co-operative Education and Career Success department does not advertise jobs for personal services such as in home care for children, the elderly or disabled, photography services for special one-day events or unpaid general labour for homeowners. For other advertising options, we recommend that you contact the local Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) or specialized home care support agencies. The ESDC number can be found in the telephone book blue pages or through the website at ESDC.

Third-party/temporary recruitment agencies

Third-party recruiters are agencies, organizations or individuals recruiting students/graduates for employment opportunities on behalf of another organization.

Graduate recruitment

Third-party recruiters are not currently expected to pay a fee to advertise their positions on Georgian’s job posting portal, GeorgianConnects. Third-party recruiters are also required to disclose the name of the company they are recruiting for in the job posting.

Contact information

If you have any questions or concerns about our employer guidelines, please contact Megan Fenton, Manager, Co-operative Education and Career Success at 705.728.1968, ext. 5277 or megan.fenton@georgiancollege.ca.

Statement on unpaid co-op postings

Georgian affirms the positive contribution that co-op students make in the workplace and they should be remunerated for their work. Unpaid co-op postings will only be considered on a case-by-case basis and may only be posted on the Career Services job posting board. Positions must offer wages, or a base salary plus commission where such industry recruitment practices are the norm. Where wages are not offered, the employer must offer some form of compensation such as paid parking passes, an honorarium, gas mileage for company business or training allowances. Students should not be expected to experience a financial loss as result of accepting unpaid co-op work terms. The college reserves the right to decline unpaid and commission-based opportunities at our discretion.

Definitions

Home-based business: A business operated by an employer out of a residence.

Virtual employment: An employment opportunity without a physical work location (e.g., students own residence or public space).

Independent contractor: Student is typically not paid via a payroll system, may not receive workplace insurance, may work on a freelance basis, and may not be physically located at the employer site.

On a case-by-case basis, postings for non-traditional work locations may be advertised on GeorgianConnects. The following considerations may be evaluated by staff. Disclosure must happen at the time of job posting and a pre-posting site visit may be required.

Will you provide the student with the required technologies or resources?

Is WSIB or other private workplace insurance available? Note: Workplace insurance is wage replacement in the event of workplace injury, as opposed to general accident or liability insurance (which may also be required).

Do you agree to provide a safe and respectful workplace environment?

Is the employment location in a residence and/or are other employees working out of the same location? Note: Alternate meeting arrangements may be required in the event of residential work location.

Is the student being hired on the company payroll or as an independent contractor? Will travel expenses be reimbursed?

Will hours meet minimum co-op eligibility requirements?

Are the hours of work (in particular if they are more than 40 hours per week, or if they may occur outside of typical business hours) clearly indicated?

Will student wages be paid via a payroll system?

In the case of students being employed as independent contractors or via third-party recruitment agencies, the method of remuneration may affect the employers’ ability to claim the Co-operative Education Tax Credit.

Conflict of interest reporting

Employers must disclose at the time of posting and/or hiring when there is a conflict of interest reporting relationship between the student and employer. Immediate family should not complete student work term evaluations.

Third-party/temporary recruitment agencies

Co-op recruitment

To ensure the co-op experience remains positive for students and serves as a meaningful learning opportunity, the following guidelines must be adhered to where a recruiting firm is involved in the recruitment process:

The name of the organization wishing to employ the student(s) must be disclosed.

The hiring organization must provide a detailed job description, including work location, skills required and other pertinent information.

The student should not be required to pay a fee to be considered for the position.

Once the student has been hired, the recruiting agency must:

Log in to GeorgianConnects and complete an online Work Term Record for the student, disclosing who the employer of record is for the student, if it is different than the employer work location.

Allow college staff to interact with the student’s supervisor to discuss work performance, satisfaction levels or any issues that may impact the student’s co-op work term success.

Upon completion of the work term, the direct supervisor must provide the college with a final Employer Evaluation (form provided by co-op student).

Pyramid-type or multi-level marketing organizations are not permitted to promote opportunities on-campus.

GeorgianConnects job posting privileges

Employment practices must meet provincial and federal laws. Please refer to the Government of Ontario website for information about employment standards. Georgian College’s Co-operative Education and Career Success department reserves the right to refuse any job postings on the GeorgianConnects job board including but not limited to situations where:

Compensation is based 50% or more on commission. Example: All persons hired for an opportunity will be self-employed and compensation for this position is 100% commission-based.

Payment of “up-front” fees for training and/or materials is required before the employee is able to begin. Example: To work for our organization, you will be required to pay professional license fees, training and/or materials before you can start working.

The purchase of a service or product or monetary deposit/fee must not be required as a condition of employment.

When fees are charged if the employee leaves before their contract is over. Postings must clearly indicate these characteristics in the job description to be approved. Example: If you leave before your contract is over; you are liable to pay a financial penalty.

Incorrect or misleading or incomplete information has been provided. Example: Duties and responsibilities, hours of work and location of the position as well as detailed and specific application instructions must be complete and accurate.

There are founded complaints from students or college personnel regarding unethical recruitment practices. We also reserve the right to refuse any job postings or participation in on-campus events, including job fairs, if the behaviour or conduct of an employer in any scope of their involvement with the college, fails to align with the values of Georgian College.

The employment opportunity doesn’t represent a viable work opportunity for students, alumni or job seekers.

Employment requires recruitment of other members, sub-distributors or sub-agents as a condition for employment. Positions must not require work that is multi-level marketing (MLM) in nature, or work for organizations that are pyramid-type or where an MLM structure is part of the organization’s structure.

Positions are for the recruitment of replacement workers during a labour dispute or layoff.

Contact information

If you have any questions or concerns about our employer guidelines, please contact Megan Fenton, Manager, Co-operative Education and Career Success at 705.728.1968, ext. 5277 or megan.fenton@georgiancollege.ca.

A refundable tax credit available to employers who hire students enrolled in a recognized Ontario university or college co-operative education program.The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers the program on behalf of Ontario through the federal income tax system.

The benefit

An eligible employer may claim a refundable tax credit for each qualifying work placement ending in the taxation year. The CETC reimburses employers 25% of eligible expenditures. Smaller businesses are eligible for a higher credit rate of 30%. The maximum credit for each qualifying work placement is $3,000. Most work placements are for a minimum employment period of 10 weeks up to a maximum of four months. Eligible expenditures made by a business in respect of a qualifying work placement are:

Salaries and wages including taxable benefits paid or payable to the student in respect of the qualifying work placement at an Ontario permanent establishment (place of business).

Fees paid or payable to an employment agency in respect of the qualifying work placement for the services of a student carried out primarily at an Ontario place of business.

Eligibility

Eligible employers must:

Have a permanent establishment located in Ontario.

Be subject to Ontario income tax.

Incur eligible expenditures associated with hiring co-op students enrolled in an Ontario university or college.

Eligible employers must hold a certified document from an eligible educational institution confirming that the employer has provided a placement to a student in respect of a qualifying co-op work placement. Although members of a partnership may share the CETC, limited partners are not entitled to this credit.

How to apply

Incorporated business

Corporations may claim the tax credit on Schedule T2SCH550 of their T2 Corporation Income Tax Return.

Unincorporated business

Employers operating unincorporated businesses may claim the credit on Form ON479, Ontario Credits, included in their personal income tax return.

Others

Members of partnerships claim their share of the credit on their own corporate or personal tax returns.

SEP positions must focus on activities supporting key sectors within the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, including citizenship, voluntarism, seniors, women, tourism, culture, sport and recreation and offer training for future careers or work experience in skills transferable to the general workforce.

Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Summer Work Experience program. It provides wage subsidies to employers to create employment for secondary and post-secondary students. Again this year, Canada Summer Jobs welcomes applications from small businesses, not-for-profit employers, public sector and faith-based organizations that provide quality summer jobs for students.

As of spring 2007, there are six confirmed partners for the SWILP program-if you work with these delivery partners you might be eligible for funding to support work integrated learning placements. Please click on each organization to learn more.

Interested in lending your expertise to benefit student learning and the sectors in which they will be employed? Join an advisory committee relevant to your industry. Contact the program co-ordinator. See a list of full-time programs and contacts.

Need to enhance the knowledge of your employees to stay competitive? Our Workforce Development team can help! Contact them today for a customized learning experience.

Looking for a location to hold your next function? Georgian’s Conference and Events Services staff can help you plan the perfect event, big or small. Connect with them by email or by phone at 705.722.5120.

At Georgian, we are committed to hands-on education, quality learning experiences, as well as strong relationships with employers and community partners. Our students graduate with the knowledge and experiences they need to succeed in their chosen fields. We are proud of our alumni and their abilities to bring fresh ideas, new skills and innovative mindsets to workplaces everywhere.

In fact, we are so confident in the quality of our programs and graduates that we are offering employers a guarantee: if, within a year of graduation, a Georgian alumnus you employ is found to require additional academic preparation within the scope of his or her program outcomes, Georgian will cover tuition costs for that graduate to complete one Georgian credit course to retrain and improve their job-specific skills.

We stand by our programs and graduates. We highly doubt you will ever need to take advantage of the Employer Guarantee. But if you have any questions, or wish to apply for this program, please contact Megan Fenton, Manager of Co-operative Education and Career Success at 705.728.1968, ext. 5277 or megan.fenton@georgiancollege.ca.

Graduate job postings

Looking for a job? Are you about to graduate or already a graduate? Georgian College’s job portal is for students and alumni. Check out job postings for Graduates | Volunteer opportunities | On-campus | Part-time | Seasonal

Georgian students automatically have an account until they graduate; after that you will need to register for an account.

Make sure you use the notify me feature or check on a regular basis so you don’t miss out on some great jobs.

Graduate services

Services available to Georgian graduates

Resumé check-up: Make your resumé the marketing tool it needs to be – we will assist you in creating a professional, updated resumé that’s ready for the job market; see what your competition is doing to be successful in their job search.

Portfolio development: Need to update your existing one or create a new one? Portfolios are quickly becoming an essential self marketing tool – they add to your credibility and build confidence. As you advance in your career or change it, your portfolio needs to reflect your accomplishments and successes.

Job search strategies: We can show you how to take advantage of all the different techniques to find a job. Be in the know when it comes to the hidden job market and labour market information – set up a mock interview to practice and build confidence in you interview skills.

Career planning: Rethinking your career goals? We can administer a variety of career assessments and help you work with the results to explore career choices that match your interests, personality type, abilities and values. One-on-one career planning utilizes career assessments including: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), COPS and TypeFocus.

Drop-in career and employment support is available in the new Career Hub in room B115 (Barrie Campus). Brought to you by:

International Experience Consultants – all campusesSupport international students with complex challenges in co-op and graduate job searches. Employer outreach and education. GoAbroardSquad support. Assistance with work abroad opportunities.